Looking for one more summer getaway before backpacks replace pool bags? Wichita makes it easy. Nationally recognized attractions, unforgettable animal encounters, award-worthy dining and plenty of ways to soak up the last days of summer all come together in one city that's well worth the drive. Go Slightly Off Center in Wichita.
Why visit Wichita this summer?
- Home to Sedgwick County Zoo, named one of USA TODAY 10Best Zoos in the country.
- See four African elephant calves together at the nationally recognized Reed Family Elephants of the Zambezi River Valley exhibit.
- Swim with otters or penguins at Tanganyika Wildlife Park, one of the few places in the country offering these unforgettable animal encounters.
- Wander through Botanica Wichita, where kids can climb and play on a giant sleeping troll in the immersive children's garden.
- Explore Wichita's new Adventure Playscape at Exploration Place with six acres of climbing, sliding, splashing and imagination.
- Cool off at indoor attractions like Strataca, where it's 68 degrees year-round 650 feet underground.
- Wrap up the day watching the Ring of Fire at the Keeper of the Plains.
- Step inside The Original Pizza Hut Museum where Pizza Hut® began. And yes, it smells like nostalgia.
Whether you're planning a spontaneous family getaway or simply looking for one more weekend before summer winds down, here's how to make the most of your trip.
One-of-a-kind animal encounters
If your family loves animals, Wichita belongs on your summer bucket list.
Start at Sedgwick County Zoo, one of the nation's top zoos and home to more than 3,000 animals representing nearly 400 species. Don't miss the award-winning Reed Family Elephants of the Zambezi River Valley, where you can watch four playful African elephant calves exploring alongside their herd. It's one of the most unique elephant experiences you'll find anywhere in the country.
Then head just west of Wichita to Tanganyika Wildlife Park, where getting close to the animals isn't just encouraged, it's part of the adventure. Feed giraffes, meet lemurs, pet kangaroos or book one of Tanganyika's unforgettable premium experiences, including the chance to swim with otters or penguins. It's the kind of story you'll be telling long after summer ends.
Discover Wichita's newest outdoor adventure
Make time for Exploration Place's Adventure Playscape, six acres of outdoor fun inspired by Kansas landscapes. Kids can climb, splash, explore and burn off energy while parents enjoy the riverfront setting. Afterward, head inside the museum or stick around for outdoor movies, concerts or riverside events happening throughout the summer.
Dine outside
Some meals deserve more than four walls.
Start with a patio at Nortons Brewing Co., where craft beer, burgers and a dog-friendly atmosphere make it easy to settle in for a while. Bring your pup, grab a local brew and enjoy one of Wichita's favorite outdoor hangouts.
Looking for dinner with a view? Head to Stearman Field Bar & Grill, where you can watch small planes take off and land just steps from your table. It's one of those "only in Wichita" experiences that turns an ordinary meal into something memorable.
If patio season is calling your name, you'll find plenty of places to answer. Sip cocktails along the river at The Monarch, enjoy tacos and margaritas at The Belmont, relax with friends at Chicken N Pickle or grab dinner and drinks on one of the many patios across Wichita.
Good weather doesn't last forever. Good patio memories do.
Beat the heat
Take a short drive to Hutchinson, where two of Kansas' most fascinating attractions are just minutes apart.
Begin at Strataca, the one-of-a-kind underground salt museum located 650 feet below Earth's surface, where the temperature remains a constant 68 degress year-round. Ride the mine elevator underground, explore the active salt mine and discover why its cool, dry, stable environment has become one of the world's most secure places to preserve history. Major Hollywood studios have stored priceless film reels, costumes and movie props here for decades. While the private storage vaults aren't open to visitors, exhibits highlight the mine's remarkable role in protecting cinematic history.
Then head just down the road to Cosmosphere, internationally recognized for housing one of the world's largest collections of U.S. and Russian space artifacts. Explore spacecraft, Apollo-era memorabilia and immersive exhibits that tell the story of humanity's journey into space.
Together, these two attractions offer an unforgettable look at Kansas' history of innovation, from the depths of the Earth to the exploration of outer space, making them the perfect finale to your historic Wichita getaway.
This also gives visitors another reason to extend their stay and experience one of the region's most unique day trips.
Spend your evenings like a local
Summer evenings are when Wichita really shines.
Bring a blanket and catch a free RiverFlix movie at Exploration Place, where the Ring of Fire at the Keeper of the Plains flickers in the background as the sun goes down. Then, make your way across the river just before 9 p.m. to watch the iconic 44-foot steel sculpture come alive as flames surround it for approximately 15 minutes. It's a Wichita summer tradition that's worth staying up for.
Looking for live music? Wichita Wind Surge games at Equity Bank Park bring summer nights to life with baseball, ballpark food and family-friendly fun. Stick around after select Friday home games for fireworks that light up the downtown skyline.
Come hungry
No Wichita getaway is complete without great food.
Turns out we're pretty good at dinner. Two Wichita restaurants were named James Beard Award semifinalists in 2025 and 2026, and they're just the beginning. From creative burger joints and local breweries to chef-driven dining and sweet treats, Wichita's food scene is full of delicious surprises.
If you're craving global flavors, Wichita delivers. Bite into handcrafted empanadas at Argentina's Empanadas, enjoy fresh Mexican food favorites at Playa Azul, savor authentic Mexican cuisine at Ruben's Mexican Grill or raise a stein at Prost for German favorites and house-brewed beer. It's just one more way Wichita's diverse food scene keeps visitors coming back for another bite.
Make one more summer weekend count
Whether you're chasing sunflower fields, meeting baby elephants, swimming with penguins or watching the Ring of Fire dance beneath the stars, Wichita makes it easy to turn one more weekend into one you'll be talking about long after summer ends.
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